Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, pitched new federal tax deductions for homebuyers and medical expenses at a Fort Worth rally Monday as early voting opened for the November election.
Speaking at T&P Station Wedding & Event Venue, Paxton promoted his “Protecting the Texas Promise” plan as a way to help families manage rising living expenses.
“Everything’s up except their paycheck,” Paxton told the crowd.
What the tax plan would do
The proposal includes a $25,000 deduction for out-of-pocket medical expenses, including health insurance premiums, plus an additional $25,000 deduction for each dependent, according to a campaign email describing the plan.
Paxton also proposes a $50,000 deduction for first-time homebuyers and a subsequent $50,000 down-payment deduction for people moving to a new primary residence.
Those deductions would reduce taxable income. They would not provide $25,000 or $50,000 checks or cut a taxpayer’s bill by those amounts. Actual savings would depend on eligibility, qualifying expenses and applicable tax rates.
The plan also includes a $5,000 deduction for eligible healthy-living expenses, including gym memberships, nutrition programs, sports activities for dependents and GLP-1 medications.
“We also want to double the child tax credit because parents know what to do with their money better than Washington,” Paxton said.
His proposal would double the child tax credit to $4,400 per qualifying child. The current maximum is $2,200, according to the IRS.
Paxton also wants to make permanent the Trump Accounts pilot’s federal seed contribution. The program currently offers a one-time $1,000 contribution for eligible U.S. citizen children born from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2028, according to the IRS.
Paxton unveiled the economic agenda in July. Congress would have to approve the proposed tax changes before they could take effect.
The homebuyer deduction has already featured in Senate-race advertising. The Dallas Express previously reported that MAGA Inc. promoted the proposal in September ads supporting Paxton.
House candidates push turnout
The rally also featured Republican Texas House candidates Cheryl Bean, who is running in District 94, and Ellen Fleischmann, who is running in District 96.
Bean told attendees she had spent time at polling locations and urged supporters to contact other voters.
“I’ve never seen that many people at the polls. Everybody is out,” Bean said.
Fleischmann similarly emphasized voter turnout and described conversations with voters who had moved to Texas from other states.
“Several are California refugees. They came here because of the way that California has gone, and they are pissed,” Fleischmann said.
“We have got to turn out the vote to make sure we don’t go the way of California,” she said.
Paxton faces state Rep. James Talarico (D-District 50) in the November 3 general election. Early voting began October 19 and continues through October 30.
Provided by Dallas Express
